Instructions for a Successful Monarch Butterfly Release

Butterfly Care and Butterfly Transfer Instructions
When you receive your butterflies:
• Your butterflies have been packed to insure they can handle the bumps and thumps of shipment. You would have to be pretty harsh with them to damage them. INSECT SPRAY will kill your butterflies. Do not store them in an area that has been recently treated for insects. Do not use insect spray near your butterflies! Do not expose your butterflies to extreme heat. Do not leave them in a parked car. Do not freeze your butterflies.
• Please open your cardboard box. Inside you will find a small Styrofoam cooler. Open the cooler and you will be able to see the box or envelopes containing your butterflies. Locate and remove the ice packs (sometimes the ice pack is located underneath a false bottom) and refreeze the ice pack in your freezer. You may use your own ice pack or frozen vegetables placed in a sandwich bag to replace the ice pack if necessary. Exchange ice packs every morning and evening.
• Check the package for any damage that may have occurred during shipping and let us know immediately if there is a problem. We will do what we can to make it right.
• Check each butterfly by warming it up in your hand then hold it up to a light and look through the glassine envelope for movement. If you have chosen envelopes that you cannot see through, hold the box up to your ear and listen for the movement of tiny kicking feet. You may notice a little bit of red liquid on or around your butterflies. This is not blood, but residue of their supplemental diet. It is nothing to worry about.
• Be sure to replace the lid of the Styrofoam every time you walk away from the box. This is important! Your butterflies need to be kept cool and dark so they sleep while they are in the box.
If your release is taking place more than 30 hours after you receive your butterflies, they must be feed.
The Day of your Event:
Remember, Monarch Butterflies cannot fly when their body temperature is below 62°. Don’t forget to remove that ice pack and bring the butterflies up to room temperature about an hour before the release. If it is going to be raining the day of your event, you will need to make sure to wait until it is not raining to do the release. In nature, butterflies survive through thunderstorms and severe weather; the rain will not kill or harm the butterflies. However, the butterflies will not fly in the rain.When transferring the butterflies I suggest that you use the smallest room available to make the transfer. If one escapes he will head upwards and towards light.
Accordion Butterfly Release Box: It is critical that the butterflies be a minimum of 65º when attempting an accordion release.
To open the accordion Butterfly Release Box: Simply lift the lid and pull the ribbon smoothly. As the folds pull straight the butterflies will be freed.Butterfly Display Cage: Simply load the butterflies through the door and release them by opening the domed top. It is a good idea to practice opening the top before you place the butterflies into the cage. Once the butterflies are in the cage mist the butterflies and netting with water so that the butterflies can have a drink.
Silver A and Orchid A Butterfly release chests:
Close the chest leaving one side slightly ajar. You may secure the opposite side of the Orchid A. chest with the provided band. Place the butterflies through the created gap. When finished loading the butterflies completely close and secure the chest. The Silver A. Chest is ready for bow placement.
Hi-Gloss Butterfly Release box and Mini Ship release box: Assemble the box leaving one flap open at the bottom. Place the band around the box to hold the lid on (The mini ship box doesn’t require band, simply make sure that the top in closed securely.) Insert the butterflies into the box through the open flap at the bottom of the box. Close the flap and secure the bottom of the box. Seal the bottom of the box closed with the provided label or tape. When you reach the location of the release remove the band. The box is now ready for the butterfly release.
Organza Butterfly Release Box: Secure a piece of wax paper over the top with elastic, leaving a gap large enough to slide the butterflies through at one corner. Push the butterflies through the gap. Once all the butterflies have been transferred gently place the lid over the box. Then tease out the wax paper and secure the organza lid.
“Easy Transfer” mass Butterfly Release Box: This specially designed cooler converts into your “ET” mass release box
Take everything out of the release box. Pin the cover (cloth or tulle) over the opening of the box leaving a small slit at one corner. Place the release box on its side with the opening facing you and the glued side up.
Hands on transfer technique: One by one remove the butterflies form their envelopes and place them into the release box; gently pinch their wings together, then wings (and fingers) first slide them past the tulle/cloth and into the box.
Envelope transfer technique: Open the flap of the envelope. Slide the opened envelope through the slit in the tulle/clothe and gently jiggle to encourage the butterfly to fly out. Slide the empty envelope back out and continue until all the butterflies have been transferred.
If you are having difficulty you may want to place the butterflies into the fridge for a few minutes. This will slow down their metabolism and make them easier to transfer. After you are done transporting the butterflies remove all of the pins and discard them properly. Pull the cloth taut over the top of the box and place the lid on. You are now ready to have a successful Mass Butterfly release. Do not force the butterflies by turning the release box upside down. Allow the butterflies to fly up and out.
Butterfly Release Basket:
Follow separate instructions for basket assembly.
At one of the handles and near the rim cut a two inch vertical slit in the tulle of your basket
Slide the butterflies into the basket trough the slit using the envelope transfer method described above. When all the Butterflies are loaded close the slit whit a twist and a safety pin. Hide the pin behind the handle of the basket. To release the butterflies untie the tulle at the bottom of the basket and lift the tulle away.ndividual Butterfly Releases: Have someone pass out the butterflies at an appropriate time. Then at the time of your choosing everyone will release their Butterflies in unison.
If you do not release the butterflies within 36 hours of receiving them feeding may be required. Use bright cloth, paper napkins, or cotton balls soaked in Gatorade or in 1 part sugar to 9 parts water. Place at floor of cage or into a self created box or container made escape free by netting over the top of the box. Also, lightly mist the butterflies through the netting several times a day.
Enjoy your Butterfly Release!
PROTECT YOUR BUTTERFLIES FROM HEAT AT ALL TIMES.
DO NOT PLACE YOUR BUTTERFLIES IS DIRECT SUN.